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Laurence Wootton
Personal information
Full name Laurence Thomas Wootton
Date of birth (2000-01-10) 10 January 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Halstead, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Fire
Youth career
2006–2017 Stoke City
2017–2020 Cardiff City
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Ohio State Buckeyes 63 (18)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Chicago Fire 0 (0)
2024 → Indy Eleven (loan) 24 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 November 2024

Laurence Thomas Wootton (born 10 January 2000) is an English footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.

Early life

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Wootton grew up in Halstead, England, and joined the Stoke City Academy at age six, spending ten years there before joining Welsh club Cardiff City's Academy, where he spent another three years.[2]

College career

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In May 2020, he committed to attend Ohio State University in the United States to play for their men's soccer team.[3][4] On 3 March 2021, he scored his first collegiate goal in a victory over the Michigan State Spartans.[5] At the end of his freshman season, he was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year.[6][7] He was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team, the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, and the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.[8]

Ahead of his sophomore season, he was named a team captain.[9][10][11] In October 2021, he was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and was also ranked as the #21 nationally ranked collegiate player.[12][13] At the end of the season, he was again named to the All-Big Ten First Team, the All-North Region Second Team, First Team All-Ohio, Academic All-Big Ten, and the team's MVP.[14][8]

During his junior season in 2022, he once again earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week in August.[15][16] At the end of the season, he was named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Academic All-Big Ten, and the All-America Third Team.[8][17][18][19]

Ahead of his senior season, he was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.[20] At the end of the season, he was once again named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and earned his fourth consecutive All-Big Ten First Team honour.[21][22] He was also named to the All-North Region First Team.[23] He finished his four seasons with Ohio State with 17 goals in 62 matches.[24]

Club career

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At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Wootton was selected in the third round (64th overall) by Chicago Fire FC.[25] In April 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the club with options for 2025 through 2027, and was immediately sent on loan to the Indy Eleven of the USL Championship for the 2024 season.[26][27] Wootton made his debut for Indy Eleven on 17 April 2024, in a 1–0 U.S. Open Cup win over Chicago Fire FC II, the MLS Next Pro affiliate team of his parent club.[citation needed] Wootton scored his first professional goal on 5 July 2024, scoring the opening goal for Indy Eleven in a 3–3 draw against Rhode Island FC.[28] He scored his second goal for the club in a 3–2 home victory over Birmingham Legion FC on 19 October.[29] Wootton ended the 2024 season with 2 goals in 28 total appearances, including the club's historic semifinal appearance in the Open Cup.[30] He returned to Chicago Fire following the end of his loan in November 2024.[31]

Career statistics

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As of match played 26 October 2024.[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chicago Fire FC 2024 Major League Soccer 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
Indy Eleven (loan) 2024 USL Championship 24 2 0 0 4 0 — 28 2
Career total 24 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 28 2

References

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  1. ^ a b Laurence Wootton at Soccerway
  2. ^ Mayhorn, Patrick (3 May 2021). "Men's soccer: Laurence Wootton a natural fit for Buckeye midfield". Buckeye Sports Bulletin.
  3. ^ "English midfielder Laurence Wootton signs with Ohio State men's soccer program". Soccerwire. 8 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Buckeyes Sign Wootton for 2020". Ohio State Buckeyes. 7 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Back-to-Back Shutouts for the Buckeyes with 2-0 Win at MSU". Ohio State Buckeyes. 3 March 2021.
  6. ^ Mayhorn, Patrick (10 April 2021). "Ohio State midfielder Laurence Wootton name B1G Freshman of the Year". Buckeye Sports Bulletin.
  7. ^ "Wootton Named Big Ten Freshman of the Year". Ohio State Buckeyes. 9 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Laurence Wootton Ohio State profile". Ohio State Buckeyes.
  9. ^ "Buzzas, Wootton Named 2021 Captains". Ohio State Buckeyes. 25 August 2021.
  10. ^ Howard, Justin (29 November 2021). "Men's Soccer: Wootton honored by awards and captain status, but eager to improve". The Lantern.
  11. ^ Howard, Justin (18 October 2021). "Men's Soccer: Buzzas and Wootton honored and humbled to lead Buckeyes". The Lantern.
  12. ^ "Big Ten Names Wootton Offensive Player of the Week". Ohio State Buckeyes. 26 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Wootton Named Top 25 Collegiate Player". Ohio State Buckeyes. 21 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Wootton Named 2021 First Team All-Big Ten". Ohio State Buckeyes. 5 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Wootton Named B1G Offensive POW". Ohio State Buckeyes. 30 August 2022.
  16. ^ Law, Gaurav (30 August 2022). "Men's Soccer: Wootton named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week". The Lantern.
  17. ^ "Wootton, McLaughlin Earn All-Region Recognition". Ohio State Buckeyes. 6 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Wootton Named 2022 All-American by United Soccer Coaches". Ohio State Buckeyes. 9 December 2022.
  19. ^ Anders, Andy (14 December 2022). "Olympic Recap: Volleyball Season Closes, Goldean and Wootton All-Americans". Buckeye Sports Bulletin.
  20. ^ "Wootton Named to 2023 Hermann Trophy Watch List". Ohio State Buckeyes. 24 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Wootton Repeats, Several Buckeyes Earn Big Ten Honors". Ohio State Buckeyes. 3 November 2023.
  22. ^ Eskender, Adam (15 November 2023). "Men's Soccer: Wootton and Pechota among five Buckeyes to receive Big Ten honors". The Lantern.
  23. ^ "Wootton Named All -North Region by United Soccer Coaches". Ohio State Buckeyes. 6 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Wootton Drafted By Chicago Fire FC Tuesday". Ohio State Buckeyes. 19 December 2023.
  25. ^ Luderman, Lauryn (20 December 2023). "Men's Soccer: Wootton drafted 64th overall to the Chicago Fire Football Club". The Lantern.
  26. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs 2024 MLS SuperDraft Pick Laurence Wootton". Chicago Fire FC. 3 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Boys in Blue Acquire Laurence Wootton on Loan from Chicago Fire". Indy Eleven. 3 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Recap - RI 3:3 IND". Indy Eleven. 5 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Indy XI 3-2 Birmingham (Oct 19, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  30. ^ "Kansas City 2-0 Indy XI (Aug 27, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  31. ^ chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire FC Announces 2024 Roster Decisions | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
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